Undoubtly, cycling is a relatively inexpensive form of activity and transport. However, according to a 2014 report by the Institute for Transport and Development Policy, only about 7% of urban trips worldwide are made by bicycle.
This is the story of how I designed the 'BicycGo app' - to provide a better cycling experience for cities.

My Role

This is my personal project, from August 2020 to December 2020, I was responsible for the user research, wireframe prototyping, iterations and final visual design of the project.

The convenience and safety of urban cycling are limited by the level of urban construction. How to provide a better cycling experience for every urban cyclist and encourage more residents to participate, while respecting the differences in the level of urban development.

The convenience and safety of urban cycling are limited by the level of urban construction. How to provide a better cycling experience for every urban cyclist and encourage more residents to participate, while respecting the differences in the level of urban development.

At the outset of the project I didn’t have a clear mission or specific goals for the cycling experience. Without pre-existing insights, I started to explore how riders were getting around.

In this step, I analysed all the data collected from user feedback and interviews through affinity diagrams. It was then possible to find early insights about the behaviour, context and channels through which users planned and used the map while cycling.

Initial Insights

From the analysis of the interviews, safety is always the most important factor for users. In addition, relaxation and convenience also influence the overall cycling experience.

Most urban cyclists are adventurous and want to enjoy the city from a different perspective, but they also want to avoid the crowds and traffic in the city and ensure they can ride on safe routes. Landscape and road safety are therefore the most important factors in urban cycling.

Before I jump into designing, it was important to define our target users and understand the changes in feelings during the cycling experience in urban.

While most mobile maps are more focused on providing an efficient cycling journey for the user, my vision is to bring more safety and fun to the user. I want to inspire more people to get outdoors and cycle, which is good for their health and the environment.
With safety in mind, I explored creating a process that makes decision making easier and simpler, brings a more fun feeling during the ride and shows a report on physical condition after the exercise.

BicycGo is not a simple moving map to guide the AtoB, but an assistant specifically designed for urban bicyclists. It includes route planning, safety alerts, and health analysis.

Starting with user research, I considered what features the app should offer and how it could interact with users during their rides in order to provide meaningful emotional value and practical value to them.

Designing user usage flows to assume and solve problems that users may encounter, focusing on how our personas think and behave rather than delving into the details of the interface, technology or business objectives.

Real users were invited to test the usage process of Wireframe. Based on the feedback of users, the application logic and page design of App were quickly iterated.

Just Go as You Wish

BicycGo recommends the most suitable routes to users based on their personal preferences and the real time conditions of the roads. The user knows in advance the locations along the route and the real-time information on the flow of people there.

Learn More about the Route

The user can find the right route based on real-time information showing traffic jams, night lights and puddles on the road. Physical condition and route navigation during the ride will be displayed in real time by the watch.

Always by Your Side

During the ride, the user's health information and road conditions will be monitored simultaneously. When abnormal health conditions or road conditions are detected, the app will notify the user in advance to ensure the safety of the rider.

- Understanding the feelings and needs of the experiencer as a participant can deepen the understanding of user research analysis.
- In user research, changes in tone of voice and expression can sometimes convey more information than words.
- A good design is one that is simple and straightforward and can be used quickly by the user.